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Where to Stay in Acadia National Park
Lodging options in and around Acadia National Park range from campgrounds and budget motels to boutique bed & breakfasts. Many have limited availability so book in advance using Booking.com, AirBnB or Expedia. My recommendations below will get you started on sorting through all of your options. Once you’re well rested and fed, read my post about things to do in and around Acadia National Park so you can make the most of your visit.
Bed & Breakfasts
I highly recommend staying at a bed and breakfast for an amazing Bar Harbor experience. You’ll meet friendly people who share their Acadia recommendations with you, plus the B&B owners are local experts more than willing to help you avoid the tourist traps. And let’s not forget the incredible hospitality and breakfasts included with your nightly room rate.
I stayed in downtown Bar Harbor at Acacia House Inn. It’s walking distance to restaurants and shops, offers reasonable rates and is committed to serving locally grown and organic food. Gluten free options are also available. Ralph bakes AMAZING cookies every afternoon and delicious pastries for breakfast. Breakfast is included in the nightly rate and starts with a fruit course followed by your choice from the inventive menu. Anna cooks up the fluffiest omelets you’ve ever tasted! For an additional charge Ralph and Anna will pack a bag lunch for you. Your choice of sandwich, fruit, chips and a cookie is more than enough to provide much needed mid-day fuel.
While I didn’t stay there, I’d love to try the Asticou Inn located in sleepy Northeast Harbor. Even if you don’t spend the night you can savor a meal or enjoy a happy hour cocktail overlooking the sailboats on the harbor.
Southwest Harbor is another quiet location and a friend of mine enjoys staying at The Moorings Inn. They offer the best of both worlds- traditional inn rooms and waterfront cottages with living rooms and kitchenettes.
Campgrounds
Blackwoods and Schoodic Woods Campgrounds are located inside the park, and space is limited so be sure to make advance reservations. For additional information visit the National Park Service site.
There are several sites within close proximity to Acadia National Park offering benefits such as RV sites and wi-fi, nearby shopping and restaurants and free shuttle service. Mt. Desert Campground offers waterfront sites, canoe and kayak rentals and wi-fi. It’s mostly tent camping but can accommodate small RVs. KOA has two highly rated locations on Mt. Desert Island. One is on the quiet west side of the island and offers bike rentals and a shuttle to Acadia National Park. The Woodlands KOA is just outside of Acadia and offers cabins, glamping tents and a heated pool.
Restaurants near Acadia National Park
There are no restaurants within the park but since Bar Harbor is so close you can easily take a mid-day break for lunch and then head back to the park for the afternoon. Of course, there is always the option of packing a lunch and enjoying it at one of Acadia’s picnic areas or mountain summits. I pulled off the side of the Eagle Lake Carriage Road to enjoy lunch with this superb view. Private, outdoor dining at its finest!
There are many great restaurants in Bar Harbor to suit whatever you might be in the mood for. Lobster is particularly plentiful. I’ve never seen so many restaurants in one town offer lobster and lobster rolls. You can’t walk two feet without running into a lobster roll. I tried the following Bar Harbor restaurants and recommend them all.
Cafe This Way– Hands down my favorite spot plus bonus points for the outdoor patio! This is a must for lovers of small plates, good wine and craft beer. It’s a bit more eclectic than most restaurants in town, with bookshelves and original artwork lining the walls. The dinner menu incorporates international flavors and changes often to incorporate the fresh catch and seasonal dishes. The restaurant is also open for breakfast but since I stayed at Acacia House I didn’t try the delicious sounding breakfast offerings.
Peekytoe Provisions– Seafood lovers take note! This is your spot for super fresh lobsters, oysters and everything in between. Originally a fish market, they now offer dine-in and takeout menus with locally and sustainably sourced seafood. All shellfish is locally sourced and the oysters are to die for! Order a dozen and enjoy them with a cold beer on one of their picnic tables. I also loved the smoked seafood chowder. I’ve eaten a lot of seafood chowder and the smoked fish offers a fresh take deserving of its award winning status. A word of caution- they’re only open until 7:00 and are closed on Tuesday.
Thrive Juice Bar & Kitchen– Open for breakfast and lunch, this is the go-to spot for smoothies and raw juices. I found the 10oz. to be the perfect afternoon snack. The Cocoa Pick-Me Up was just what I needed and it was discounted 10% with the coupon I received on my receipt from Side Street Cafe next door. They also offer yogurt, granola and quinoa bowls for breakfast and lunch and have an extensive salad bar for lunch. Who isn’t going to feel like conquering a tough hike after starting the day with The Ironman bowl?! I love that they source as many organic and local ingredients as possible.
Lompoc Cafe– It’s not everyday you can play a game of bocce ball before enjoying your dinner on an outdoor patio. This cozy cafe located in downtown Bar Harbor on Rodick St. cooks everything from scratch and sources ingredients locally whenever possible. Sitting on the brick patio lined with dogwood and fruit trees, you would never know you’re in the middle of Bar Harbor. I recommend the Lamb Shwarma with a side of sautéed greens.
Coffee Hound– When you need a caffeine fix stop by Coffee Hound near Agamont Park and then stroll along Shore Path. Satisfy your sweet tooth with a blueberry pie turnover that’s freshly baked each morning by Epi Bakery, just around the corner.
Bonus Tips
- While you’ll pay around $20 for a lobster roll in Bar Harbor, if you want the best deal I’ve ever seen for a lobster roll stop at Shain’s of Maine Ice Cream on Main St. in Sanford, ME, to pay only $7.99. I recommend stopping on your trip to or from Bar Harbor since it’s in southern Maine and you’ll need to take a small detour off I-95. Note the restaurant section is only open on Wednesday night and it’s a seasonal business.
- Cut down on restaurant bills by preparing your own meals with fresh, organic ingredients from A&B Naturals. The market is conveniently located on Cottage St. in Bar Harbor and also has a smoothie bar and small cafe.
